And a bright idea to look for water ice on the Moon … a few of the stories to tell you about– This Week at NASA!
Artemis I Moon Mission Still Targeting November Launch
NASA is still targeting November 14 for the launch of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft on Artemis I. The uncrewed flight test will send out Orion beyond the Moon and back to Earth.
CAPSTONE exposed in lunar Sunrise: CAPSTONE will fly in cislunar area– the orbital area near and around the Moon. The mission will show an ingenious spacecraft-to-spacecraft navigation service at the Moon from a near rectilinear halo orbit slated for Artemis Gateway. Credit: Illustration by NASA/Daniel Rutter
CAPSTONE Completes Successful Maneuver
After an effective trajectory correction maneuver, the CAPSTONE spacecraft is still expected to show up in lunar orbit on November 13. CAPSTONE will evaluate the same distinct, elliptical lunar orbit that the Gateway lunar station will utilize as part of NASAs Artemis program.
This illustration shows NASAs Lunar Flashlight over the Moon. The SmallSat objective will have a very extended orbit, taking it within 9 miles (15 kilometers) above the lunar South Pole to look for water ice in the Moons darkest craters. Credit: NASA
Searching the Moons South Pole Craters for Water Ice
NASAs Lunar Flashlight is a little satellite that will utilize lasers to browse for water ice inside the darkest craters at the Moons South Pole. Water ice might supply an important resource for astronauts on future Moon missions. Lunar Flashlight is targeted for launch in November.
This visualization replicates the lighting at the South Pole of the Moon in the year 2023. The field of vision includes the area south of 88 ° south latitude. Credit: NASAs Scientific Visualization Studio
Illumination at the Moons South Pole
This NASA visualization simulates the lighting at the South Pole of the Moon for all of 2023 and provides you an idea of what some of the craters will appear like from above. Data from NASAs Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter were used to produce this visualization.
Thats whats up this week @NASA …
An update on NASAs Artemis I Moon objective …
The best moves for a small satellite mission …
CAPSTONE exposed in lunar Sunrise: CAPSTONE will fly in cislunar area– the orbital space near and around the Moon. The mission will show an ingenious spacecraft-to-spacecraft navigation option at the Moon from a near rectilinear halo orbit slated for Artemis Gateway. The SmallSat objective will have a really extended orbit, taking it within 9 miles (15 kilometers) above the lunar South Pole to browse for water ice in the Moons darkest craters. NASAs Lunar Flashlight is a little satellite that will utilize lasers to browse for water ice inside the darkest craters at the Moons South Pole.